What Sound Does a Turkey Make?

We’re all familiar with a raspy hen yelp and a thundering tom gobble. But wild hens and gobblers make many turkey sounds beyond these two vocalizations. Each of these sounds express specific meanings. As turkey hunters, understanding each call helps us decipher what turkeys are saying, and what we should say back to them. But even if you’re not a turkey hunter, it’s fun to be able to identify these sounds in the turkey woods.

Here are the most common turkey sounds that gobblers, hens, jakes, and jennies make. While we can’t guarantee the exact meaning of every vocalization, these are the perceived interpretations based on lots of field observation.

The wild turkey gobble is the flagship turkey sound. It’s commonly made by male turkeys (longbeards and jakes). However, hens can gobble, too. This vocalization is a long-range call that announces the presence of the turkey that sounds it out. It’s used to challenge other birds, give hens their location, and more. Likely translation: “I’m right here. Come and get me!”

The plain hen yelp is the primary vocalization for female turkeys. Oftentimes, this is a series of soft, moderate, or loud notes. Each yelp begins with a high-pitched front end and finishes with a raspy back end. These sounds can be emitted singularly, or in series of two, three, four, or more notes. The yelp is most likely a call that announces a turkey’s general presence. It’s the general turkey sound for urging other turkeys to approach their position. Likely translation: “Here I am. Where are you? Come over here!”

The wild turkey assembly call is a long series of hen yelps. Think of it as regular yelps on steroids. Generally, these are among the loudest yelps heard in the turkey woods. This call is primarily used by hens to bring turkeys back together, locate lost flock members, and more. It’s especially common among boss hens calling their young, or subdominant hens, back together. Likely translation: “Everyone, come back here right now!”

The cluck is most often a single note. Sometimes, it becomes a series of short notes. This turkey sound is emitted in moderate volume and can be heard from about 80 to 100 yards away. Usually, this soft social vocalization is emitted by hens that are feeding and communicating with nearby birds. It’s a social call that acknowledges approaching turkeys. Likely translation: “What’s up! How you been? All good here.”

The cluck and purr create a combination call. It combines clucking and purring into the same series of turkey talk. This is a common social contact call. It also signals contentment and safety. This reassures other turkeys that all is well. Likely translation: “Everything is swell here. The coast is clear, and the grub is good!”

Cutting is a series of aggressive clucks. These are short but loud notes. Oftentimes, these are emitted as a fast-paced series of three, or more notes. Sometimes, yelps cap off the back end of cutting. Hens that emit this turkey sound are excited. They are actively reaching out to other turkeys. They might be communicating to hens, or it could be gobblers. But they’re seeking the attention of other turkeys. Likely translation: “Where are you? Get your butt over here right now! I want a piece of you!”

Fighting purrs are aggressive, erratic purrs. These are vocalized by male birds, they are quite loud, and they can be heard from much farther away than typical purrs, which are mostly emitted by hens. Generally, this sound is used by male turkeys as they fight. In short, this is a display of aggression toward other turkeys. Likely translation: “I’m going to give you a whoopin.”

The fly-down cackle is typically vocalized as a hen turkey ascends to or descends from its roost limb (but mostly the latter). The fly-down cackle is mostly a signal that lets other turkeys know where they are at the beginning of the day. In addition to roost limb activity, it’s even associated with when a turkey flies down from a high ridge, across a creek, etc. (regardless of time of day). Likely translation: “I’m here, but I’m fixing to go over there!”

Jakes (young male birds) yelp, too. It sounds similar to a hen yelp. However, it’s different in tone and is raspier and not as clean as a hen yelp. Jakes use this sound more than any other while communicating with other turkeys. Likely translation: “Yo! It’s me. What’s up?”

Toms can yelp, too. This turkey sound is a deep, raspy, three-noted call. Oftentimes, this is a turkey sound that toms use to communicate with other male turkeys. It’s especially common outside of the spring breeding season. Likely translation: “Hey, dude. What’s up?”

The kee-kee and kee-kee run are calls used to bring turkeys back together. Turkeys also use this sound to find nearby turkeys they lost. It’s especially common among younger turkeys. Likely translation: “Where are you? I’m trying to find you. Come back here!”

The purr is a series of quiet notes made by hens (similar to the purring a cat makes). It’s difficult to hear unless you’re close. Oftentimes, it’s audible inside 30 to 40 yards. Generally, hens vocalize this sound when they are calm and content. It’s often made by a turkey that’s feeding or casually walking along. Likely translation: “It’s good times in the turkey crib. And the bugs over here aren’t bad, either.”

The putt is an alarm vocalization. This turkey sound is sharp and high-pitched. It can be singular but is usually strung together with other putts with short spacing between them. Of course, the putt is the most dreaded sound in the turkey woods (for turkeys and turkey hunters). It’s a signal of alarm, and the vocalization underscores imminent danger. Likely translation: “Something isn’t right. Let’s skedaddle!”

The tree yelp (also referred to as the tree call) is a series of soft yelps. This sound is emitted by roosted turkeys. It’s usually heard early in the morning as daylight nears, and during the minutes leading up to fly-down. This turkey sound is like the quieter version of the primary yelp. It’s a method for hens to alert other turkeys to their presence. Likely translation: “Here is my location. After fly-down, let’s hang out!”

The spit-and-drum isn’t a traditional vocalization, but it is an audible sound that male turkeys make while strutting. It’s only emitted as the turkey flows from half-strut to peak strut. Generally, it’s impossible to hear unless inside of 50 yards of the tom. Sometimes you “feel” drumming more than actually hear it. Biologists are unsure exactly how gobblers spit-and-drum, but it seems to come from their chest and throat. This is not a vocalization to use as a hunter, but it’s certainly one to listen for in the field. If you hear it, a tom is close. Likely translation: “Come over here — I’m ready for you, baby!”

Finally, the whine (a.k.a. “do-whit) is a vocalization that hens often use in conjunction with clucks, purrs, and yelps. It’s a subtle sound that can easily go overlooked, simply because it’s less common and difficult to mimic on a turkey call. Generally, this call is a social, contact-based communication between turkeys. It’s a call type that adds another layer to the overall message sent via soft yelps, clucks, and purrs. Likely translation: “All is well. Good to see you!”

As the centerpiece of many Thanksgiving feasts, the turkey is a familiar bird to most people. But while we love to eat turkey, many don’t know much about these quirky birds and the surprising array of sounds they make.

From the iconic gobble to yelps, putts, and more, turkeys have a diverse vocal repertoire. Learning about the different turkey calls and what they mean provides insight into the social structure and behavior of these large ground-dwelling birds.

Next time you hear a turkey’s voice, you’ll have a better appreciation of their language. Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating sounds of the turkey.

The Iconic Gobble

The gobble is the quintessential turkey sound, frequently depicted in pop culture imagery of turkeys. Male turkeys, called toms or gobblers, perform the gobble call most often It is their way of announcing their presence to females (called hens) and competing with other males

The gobble is loud and impossible to miss. It begins with a low-pitched “guh” before rolling into a rapid staccato series of gargling “obble” sounds. Gobbles last just 1-2 seconds but carry over a mile in ideal conditions.

Toms strategically gobble from treetops or high vantage points to increase the range of their call. The better they are heard, the more hens they attract. Dominant males gobble more frequently to proclaim their status and intimidate rivals.

Gobbling peaks in spring during the breeding season but may be heard year-round. The frequency and urgency of gobbles help signal a tom’s health and virility, making this call critical for turkey social dynamics.

Yelps, Purrs, and Whines

While the gobble gets all the attention, turkeys have an array of other vocalizations too. Hens use particular calls to communicate with their young poults (chicks). Mother hens emit soft clucks and purrs to keep poults close by and assembly yelps to gather them together.

Poults “peep” constantly during their first few weeks of life to bond with their mothers and siblings. As poults get older, they transition to “putt” sounds for staying in contact with the group. Putts are two-note calls that sound like “pit-pit.”

Hens may also yelp in alarm if danger is spotted. Their high-pitched yelps signal poults to freeze in place for safety. Male turkeys can yelp as well, but their version is louder and more aggressive, serving as a warning to rivals.

Whines are another turkey vocalization, often made by males trying to court receptive hens. The drawn-out whining sounds transition to excited gobbling when the hen responds favorably.

Other Turkey Noises

Turkeys make non-vocal sounds too. For example, courting males perform a displaying behavior called strutting, fanning their tail feathers and making rhythmic drumming noises. The drumming results from the males erecting their body feathers and vibrating them rapidly against the air.

Other sounds include the spitting and fighting noises turkeys produce when intimidating opponents. Bills clashing together, wings beating against bodies, and feet scuffling all add to the ruckus of an aggressive encounter between males.

Overall, turkeys have an impressive vocabulary of at least 28 unique vocalizations. Their calls allow complex social interactions and information exchange among flocks. From the familiar gobble to lesser-known putts and purrs, the sounds are a language we need to listen more closely to understand.

Why Do Turkeys Gobble?

Male turkeys gobble for two primary reasons related to breeding:

Attracting hens – Loud gobbles proclaim a male’s presence and fitness to hens in the area. The male with the most frequent and vigorous gobbling tends to attract the most female attention.
Competition – Gobbling also asserts a male’s dominance over rival males. Males gobble and strut to establish territory and intimidate younger males.

The urge to gobble is influenced by hormone levels, which peak in spring with the onset of breeding season. Gobbling activity declines after mating concludes but may increase again in fall before winter sets in.

What Does a Turkey Gobble Sound Like?

A turkey’s gobble is an unmistakable sound. It starts with a low-pitched “guh” before rapidly cascading into a series of 10-20 louder double syllable “gob-bles”. The tempo accelerates over the gobble’s 1-2 second duration.

The gobbling then abruptly stops, resulting in a unique sound that has been likened to gargling, galloping, and even a trill on a woodwind instrument. The gobble can carry over a mile on a calm morning, enabling males to be heard by distant females.

Here are some key characteristics of the gobbling sound:

Starts softly then gets louder
Speeds up tempo
Series of double syllables
Gargling/galloping quality
Abrupt ending
Lasts 1-2 seconds
Carries long distances

Once you learn to recognize it, the gobble’s unique vocal signature will be unmistakable.

When Do Turkeys Gobble?

In the wild, most gobbling occurs in spring between March and early June. This coincides with the peak breeding season when males are seeking mates. However, gobbling may begin as early as February and extend through July in some regions.

The most active gobbling times are early morning before fly-down from the roost and late afternoon before sunset. The low light conditions allow the sound to travel farthest. Rainy, cloudy, or windy days suppress gobbling activity.

Through fall and winter, gobbling is less frequent but still occurs sporadically, especially on warmer days. During this time, it serves more of a contact call purpose among flocks than for breeding. In commercial operations, artificial lighting tricks tom turkeys into breeding year-round.

Why Do Hens Gobble?

Although female turkeys don’t gobble often, they sometimes gobble in response to males during the breeding season. Hen gobbles are higher pitched, shorter, and less forceful than tom gobbles. Scientists believe responsive gobbling indicates a female’s readiness to mate with a male suitor.

On very rare occasions, a hen may adopt male mannerisms like gobbling and strutting if their hormone balance is abnormal, a condition called hormonal hen. But in general, gobbling is primarily a tom turkey behavior related to announcing their availability and fitness for breeding.

Turkey Vocalizations Beyond the Gobble

While the gobble may be a turkey’s most iconic sound, they have an extensive vocabulary. Here are some other notable turkey calls:

Clucks -Made by mother hens to gather poults
Purrs – Soft, contented sounds by nesting/roosting hens
Peeps – Constant call of poults to the mother hen
Putts – Two-note call by fledglings, especially feeding time
Yelps – Assembly or alarm calls by adults
Drumming – Vibrating sounds made when strutting

By learning more turkey talk, we gain appreciation into the hidden social world of these vocal birds beyond their value at the Thanksgiving table. Just listen for the gobble, putts, and purrs out your window. As it turns out, turkeys have a lot to say!

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Turkey Call – Turkey Sound ~ Learn The Sound a Turkey Makes

FAQ

What kind of noise do turkeys make?

Gobble. The gobble is a loud, rapid gurgling sound made by male turkeys. The gobble is one of the principal vocalizations of the male wild turkey and is used primarily in the spring to let hens know he is in the area.

What sound does a turkey make in words?

If you ask most people what sound a turkey makes, they’ll say gobble. That’s only the beginning. They also cackle, cluck, purr, yelp … and a lot more.

What does a Tom turkey Yelp sound like?

The hen yelp and variations The most commonly heard sound in the turkey woods is made by the hen, and it’s called a yelp. Toms also yelp, but it’s louder, raspier and often more drawn-out than that of hens. The yelp is usually delivered in a series of one-note tunes. However, yelps can take on various forms.